THE BONGO CLUB (Part 2, 3 and infinity)

[BobaSeth]

and I apologize for this being a duplicate post, I posted in the main bass forum before I saw this thread.
When I get used to a particular bass, my bongo 5 for instance, If I switch to another bass, especially when I have to sing lead as well, it seems I have a harder time adjusting to that other bass than most of you guys that can just jump from one to another.
for me, it's like getting in somebody else's car, I can't just reach for the cruise control or wipers without thinking about it, I have to look and feel my way around.
I have a use for a second, lower priced bass, something I could use in places where I wouldn't want the bongo to be, and something I could leave at rehearsal, then play the bongo at gigs and not have to go through the transition.
So, what do you bongo players suggest as the closest budget alternative to a bongo? I know the quality won't be there, but I mean something with a similar neck shape, size and feel, similar string spacing, etc etc
Thanks everybody

 

[sko1270]

Can I join? Here are mine. Lousy pick of my Neptune Blue one though lol

 

[96Brigadier]

Can I join? Here are mine. Lousy pick of my Neptune Blue one though lol

View attachment 2827767 View attachment 2827770

The white with black hardware looks awesome. I have yet to find another white bass I've been particularly fond of other than white Music Man basses. They do it so well (loved the white with black binding I had on my Reflex).

 

[pudgychef]

Can I join? Here are mine. Lousy pick of my Neptune Blue one though lol

View attachment 2827767 View attachment 2827770

May I please request - 'if you ever decide to sell that Bongo, please message me' that is stunning!

 

[sko1270]

Thanks guys, both are much much better in person. The blue bongo has such a beautiful flame on the back of the neck and plays amazing.

 

[therealacameron]

I'll vouch for the Stealth Pearl, looks amazing in person!

 

[djaxup]

both are exquisite!!! Congrats

 

[Bassist Jay]

I haven't read anything about stability problems with the roasted necks, so that was a selling point. The regular oiled/waxed necks, though....

On my 2010 BFR Roasted Neck, I have to adjust the truss rod twice a year. Usually in the summer and then in the winter even though the bass is kept in its case in a climate controlled room. I don’t understand why it is but in the summer, I have to adjust it one way and then in the winter, back in the other direction. It is my only bass that does this. I also had another Bongo with a Roasted Maple Neck but it had a natural finish not a gloss one. I only had it for a few years but I don’t recall ever having to adjust its neck like I do on the 2010 BFR? I live in Colorado at just under a mile above sea level and wonder if the thinner atmosphere effects that bass when the weather changes from one extreme to the other even though the room is climate controlled. But then again, why don’t my other basses do this? It’s a mystery to me.

 

[Stevorebob]

On my 2010 BFR Roasted Neck, I have to adjust the truss rod twice a year. Usually in the summer and then in the winter even though the bass is kept in its case in a climate controlled room. I don’t understand why it is but in the summer, I have to adjust it one way and then in the winter, back in the other direction. It is my only bass that does this. I also had another Bongo with a Roasted Maple Neck but it had a natural finish not a gloss one. I only had it for a few years but I don’t recall ever having to adjust its neck like I do on the 2010 BFR? I live in Colorado at just under a mile above sea level and wonder if the thinner atmosphere effects that bass when the weather changes from one extreme to the other even though the room is climate controlled. But then again, why don’t my other basses do this? It’s a mystery to me.

Generally higher barometric pressure in winter, lower in summer — like altitude loss and gain — that may have something to do with it.

 

[Rev. Cornelius]

If you were to buy your first Bongo 4 would you go HH or HS? Is there a vast difference in tone?

Thanks

 

[TolerancEJ]

Hey Bongo Fans. I posted this in the Hot Deals section & thought I'd link it here too.

In short, I noticed a this used EBMM Bongo 6 HH on Guitar Center site for $1399.99. They've indicated the finish as "gunmetal gray". The lighting in the photo is poor, but this might be the Egyptian Smoke finish from a few years back

Guitar Center used site

 

[coyoteboy]

Bongo Club!

 

[OldFunBass]

View attachment 2935867 Bongo Club!

Love it!

 

[scuzzy]

I'm in!

 

[coyoteboy]

The Bongo is so badass it needs its own gig.

 

[Ken R]

I'm sure I posted somewhere in one of the first two threads, but here are my two.

 

[cchorney]

So I have been LOVING my 2005 Bongo 4HH, but since getting my Ibanez Portamento (a 5 string fretless) I realize that there is an adjustment period I need when switching between instruments. Not for gigs where I swap back and forth between sets, but in general when I play one for a week and then take the other out and get lost on the strings for a while. My solution was to sell the 4HH and buy a 5HH, but I wanted to try one first, so I checked the Guitar Centers in my state and one of the 3 stores had a 5HH in stock so I went there to try it. Post #20520303. Impressions: First, yes the neck is bigger than the 4HH (duh) but also bigger than the Ibby. But not so big I couldn't manage. And it played REALLY well. But the biggest thing to me is it had a natural finish neck and headstock and I LOVED it. The purple paint, not so much to my eye. I haven't yet decided if buying purple is the price I need to pay to get that neck. I see that EBMM has done this before, because a couple pages back Bassist Jay showed his natural neck and headstock Bongos in his "Keeper's For Life Club" entry. Post #20520303. (sweet collection, dude!) So I know that at least in years 2010, 2014, 2017 EBMM made them. So I'm trying to understand how EBMM does this - do they do one color a year with the natural neck and headstock? One color every few years? I wish it was just a factory option available with any color.

 

[Epitaph04]

Theyre just limited editions. Like their BFR stuff. I think the barolo is a guitar center exclusive.

 

[Bassist Jay]

@cchorney, thank you for the compliment. EBMM started in 2010 with the BFR Roasted neck with gloss finish on the neck and black sugar finish on the body able to be ordered on almost any model. Me and 2 other people order Bongo 4 H models. 2 our here in Colorado. Mine and one other and then the third was sold used to some guy I think in Ireland.

Every year thereafter until 2016 EBMM had a PDN order open for one month only to premier dealer networks. The ones with roasted necks were Starry Night finish in 2016, Neptune Blue In I think 2014, Honeyburst in either 2012 or 2013. I forget which one? And then in 2012 or 2013 or maybe 2014 you also had the all rosewood neck that could be ordered on any model and finish except for The Gamechanger. During those years you also had sparkle green and sparkle red but with standard necks. And there was I believe one other PDN order but it was only a body finish on I think a Sabre bass. Those are all the ones I remember.

As of 2017, now they have special orders that had to be pre ordered by dealers at NAMM. So far only 1 bass has been released and I wasn’t all that thrilled by it.

 

[cchorney]

Well this just happened. Guitar Center had this thing hanging on the wall at 500 less than their own website price, and then the guy gave me 20% off. I couldn't say no. Looks like I need to sell my black Bongo 4HH. That ad will show up in the classifieds in a week or so - once I get over my initial excitement playing "The Purple Haze". No, "The Grape Ape". No, "The Plum Bass of DOOM". No... I'll think of something.